Soma Chaudhuri is a qualitative sociologist whose research lies at the intersection of gender, development, social movements and violence. She studies how violence at the community and household level is used to legitimize structural and institutional level gender inequalities that specifically disadvantage grassroots women. Relatedly she explores the role of non-state actors in creating effective strategies for encountering such violence through empowerment programs, the impact it has on the women’s lives, and reasons for failure of such programs.
Professor Chaudhuri’s research has appeared in American Journal of Sociology, Mobilization; Research in Social Movements, Conflict and Change; Sociology of Development; Contexts; and Sociological Forum among others. Her research has been funded by several grants including the National Science Foundation and Social Science Research Council. She is on the editorial board of Sociology of Development, Contemporary Sociology and International Journal of Sociology.
Professor Chaudhuri is currently an Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology at Michigan State University.
Soma Chaudhuri 